The Attacker That Robbed a Casino Winner for $10,000 Got Arrested

27 Mar 2009

In one of the January news we wrote about Anthony Vastardis, who got robbed after winning $10,000 at a Blackjack game. We have wonderful news for you as the attacker was finally caught.

Vastardis was attacked after he won $10,000 at the Taj Mahal Casino. The attacker was said to be watching the player in the casino and than attacked him in the garage, beat him and left on a taxi. Vastardis was left there with a broken hip and other injuries.

Lawrence Bellamy, aged 30 from Baltimore was charged with robbery and assault on March 23rd.

According to the police reports, Bellamy robbed another player at the Trump Plaza on March 17th and that was when he got caught. He was recognised by one of the casino security investigators as the photo was distributed to all after the attack in January.

On Monday he was recognised by Anthony Vastardis after seeing a photo at the police lineup, who now undergoes physical therapy and uses a wheelchair.

According to the police records, Bellamy was previously convicted of three similar cases that involved casino players. Bellamy got probation and not a sentence.

The attacker was locked up in the Atlantic County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of $250,000 bail.